Hornby have today made a surprise announcement, bringing forward one that was due for December this year that as part of the 2016 range, that they are to produce an Original air smoothed Bullied Merchant Navy Pacific.
, with some assistance already from myself, to be part of their 2016 range. The initial releases, although full details are yet to be revealed, will be based on the first series of 10 locomotives built between February 1941 and June 1942. They will include 21c1 “Channel Packet” in her original condition as introduced without smoke deflectors and widow’s peak style front end. The Hornby announcement also includes some early development images, some of which they have been hinting about and sharing via social media earlier this week. My very first Talking Stock #1 post details the differences within the three series of three class.
This early announcement by Hornby may be seen as a pre-emptive move as Bachmann are due to make their 2015 announcement of their plans for the next 18 months on Monday, at a media event I am attending. I will of course bring the news on any such Southern Railway related releases on here hot the press on Monday. Although this might possibly result in some duplication of a class, and at this time of writing there is of course no such duplication, other than perhaps an educated guess made by some due the N gauge version of Series 3 Merchant Navy locomotives already being produced by Graham Farish, the class has enough variations to perhaps keep a number of manufacturers busy, let’s wait and see.
Fantastic news, although I would have preferred the second Series. I’ve been after a pre-build one for years having 3 Millholne versions.
If Hornby don’t do series 2 and 3 I suppose Golden Arrow might modify their kits to produce an easier version.
Together with the S15 I only need a Q class to complete my wish list.
The only down side is all the kits I’ve made will have been superseded.
What a nice surprise, now my Bullied collection can be completed although patience will be required. Great decision Hornby.
Excellent news, I have thought for a long time that Hornby have been saving the first 10 numbers for just such an announcement; as you say a Bachmann Merchant Navy in tomorrows announcement is now a certainty, but perhaps with some new Bulleid coaches?
Of course such a model fits with the Devon Belle coaches already owned.
Hi Robert, I don’t actually think a Bachmann version is as much of a certainty as some believe.
This is good news and I do wish Hornby well in trying to keep up with all the detail changes across the versions at any given point in time!